Dehradun, June 19 -- The state Cabinet on Thursday approved revising the eligibility cut-off date for extending the benefit of "equal pay for equal work" from November 12, 2018, to the October 15, 2024, as specified in the Supreme Court's order in a key decision affecting thousands of personnel engaged through Uttarakhand Purv Sainik Kalyan Nigam Ltd (UPNL). On October 15, 2024, the top court had dismissed the Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by the state government, thus upholding the original Uttarakhand High Court order that guaranteed UPNL workers "equal pay for equal work". The decision was taken during the cabinet meeting chaired by chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. Officials aware of the matter said the earlier eligibility cut-off date of November 12, 2018, had restricted the number of beneficiaries eligible for the pay parity benefit. With the cabinet approving the revised date in accordance with the Supreme Court order, more UPNL personnel are expected to come within the ambit of the "equal pay for equal work" provision. Among other major decisions, the cabinet approved a proposal to declare Uttarakhand a fully literate state based on literacy standards prescribed under the National Education Policy 2020. School education minister Dhan Singh Rawat said the state's literacy rate has crossed 98% and that the proposal would now be forwarded to the Centre for formal recognition. The cabinet also approved the promulgation of the Uttarakhand Sanskrit Education (Amendment) Regulations, 2026, introducing changes to the regulatory framework governing Sanskrit schools and examinations in the state. In the livestock sector, the cabinet cleared a pilot project for breed improvement in cattle through embryo transfer technology aimed at producing superior genetic stock and enhancing milk production. To provide relief to horse and mule owners engaged in the Char Dham Yatra, the cabinet approved a proposal under which the state government will bear 20% of the insurance premium for registered equines used on the Kedarnath, Yamunotri and Hemkund Sahib routes during the 2026 pilgrimage season. The cabinet further approved guidelines for price adjustment in pending Public Works Department contracts involving bituminous works, citing a sharp rise in bitumen prices triggered by increasing global crude oil prices amid the Middle East conflict. Other decisions included amendments to the state's three-year excise policy, creation of five specialist posts for operating an advanced testing facility at the Aromatic Plant Centre in Selaqui, permission to select an organising agency through the single-source method for the proposed International Himalayan Car Rally, promulgation of the Uttarakhand Prison (Amendment) Rules, 2026, and approval of the Uttarakhand Prison Jailor Subordinate (Gazetted) Service Rules, 2026. The cabinet also approved financial assistance to the health department for clearing outstanding dues of hospitals under the state government's Golden Card health scheme. The cabinet also expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah following consensus among participating states on the long-pending Kishau Multipurpose Dam Project. The cabinet also expressed grief over the demise of former chief minister Maj Gen (retd)Bhuvan Chandra Khanduri and noted shooter and Padma Shri awardee Jaspal Rana. At the beginning of the cabinet meeting Dhami, ministers and senior officials observed a two-minute silence and paid heartfelt tributes to the departed souls. Dhami said that Khanduri had made significant contributions to the development of Uttarakhand, good governance and public service during his political career....